Mr. Walter's practice focuses on environmental law, administrative law, general civil litigation, zoning and land use, commercial transactions and litigation, utility law and utility regulatory law as well as oil and gas law. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., Mr. Walter was a shareholder with the law firm of Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. located in Lansing, Michigan.
Prior to joining Knaggs, Harter, Brake & Schneider, P.C. in 1999, Mr. Walter served for nearly three years as the law clerk for the Honorable William E. Collette in the Ingham County Circuit Court located in Lansing, Michigan. Mr....

Mr. Keating joined Dworken & Bernstein in 2007 and primarily practices in the firm's business and commercial litigation department. He received his Juris Doctorate with a concentration in litigation from Case Western Reserve University in 2005. His undergraduate education was completed in 2001 at Ithaca College where he received a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Psychology, and co-authored and presented studies on juror member decision-making to the American Psychological Association.
Over 90% of Mr. Keating's practice is devoted to civil litigation. During his career, he has successfully represented clients in the areas of corporate formation and dissolution, director and...

I have led my law firm, Wilson & Wilson Co., L.P.A., and been a CPA licensed in Ohio for over 30 years, along with being a licensed attorney in Georgia for over 12 years. I have extensive experience in complex civil litigation, personal injury and medical malpractice representing mainly smaller litigants in David vs. Goliath situations by personally handling cases in an efficient and cost effective manner without sacrificing results. My experience as a CPA and many years as outside corporate counsel for a wide range of companies handling litigation, taxation, transactional and management advisory matters have given me...

Steven Roth is an attorney in Dworken & Bernstein’s business transactional, commercial real estate, and sports, media, and entertainment law divisions. Steven’s practice involves representing and counseling clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial and residential real estate transactions, banking and finance (lenders and borrowers), intellectual property, business start-ups, franchise law, construction law, and business formation. Steven also has a great deal of experience in the area of sports, media, and entertainment law, and represents numerous athletes, artists, media personalities and companies, and Grammy winning recording artists. Prior to joining Dworken & Bernstein, Steven worked for...

Howard Rabb received a degree in Business Administration at The Ohio State University and was awarded his law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Rabb has been a contributor to various general circulation and legal trade publications and has served as a trustee to the Legal Aid Society in Cleveland. He is past chairman of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. and is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He serves on the Attorney Constituent Group for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Ohio, and is admitted to...

Mr. Strickland joined Dworken & Bernstein in 2010 and practices primarily in the firm's business transactional department as well as in the firm’s litigation department, and his practice in Federal Indian law. Mr. Strickland earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree from Capital University in August of 1999 with a major in English Literature and minors in Political Science and Psychology. He was awarded his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in May of 2003 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio in November of 2003 and the Northern District of Ohio in 2010. Mr....

Erika represents individuals in criminal proceedings, provides estate planning counsel to families, and advises small business owners on a wide range of issues. Prior to founding Turk | Apelis, Erika gained valuable experience representing Fortune 500 companies facing government and regulatory investigations, and state and federal white-collar criminal charges. She worked closely with international companies on corporate governance and compliance issues. Erika has now translated that global experience into advocating for and counseling individuals and businesses in Northeast Ohio. Erika received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2005 and her J.D. from the...

Melvyn E. Resnick earned his undergraduate degree in Business and Accounting with honors from Ohio University. He was awarded his law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law and admitted to the Bar in 1966. Mr. Resnick is a member of the Lake County Bar Association. He is a past president of Tau Epsilon Rho Law Fraternity. He is licensed to practice in all Ohio courts as well as U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, since 1968 and the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit. Mr. Resnick's practice emphasizes real estate, commercial litigation, general business, corporate banking, estate...

I have extensive experience in complex civil litigation and personal injury representing mainly smaller litigants in David vs. Goliath situations by personally handling cases in an efficient and cost effective manner without sacrificing results. My education in business and accounting as well as my years as outside corporate counsel for a variety of companies handling litigation, transactional and management advisory matters has given me insight into the needs business owners and the means to assist in accomplishing their goals. Please feel free to contact me for a no-cost initial consultation on your business and personal injury needs.

Mr. Selby earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree with honors from Case Western Reserve University in the field of Chemical Engineering in May of 1989. He was awarded his Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law cum laude in May of 1992 and was admitted to the practice of law in the state of Ohio in November of 1992. He is currently licensed to practice in the state of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Selby brings extensive experience to Dworken...

Mr. Kraus graduated from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia) in 1981 with a B.A. in Political Science. He received his law degree in 1984 from Case Western Reserve University School of Law (Cleveland, Ohio). He practiced law in a small family firm, Kraus & Kraus, from 1984 until 2000. In 2000, Mr. Kraus joined Dworken & Bernstein as an associate attorney and in July 2003, was made a partner in the firm. He has been a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Florida Bar. Mr. Kraus has also served as a mediator with...

Jodi Littman Tomaszewski focuses her practice in the areas of general business, real estate, financing and eminent domain litigation. Her practice includes assisting and counseling clients with regard to general business start-ups; mergers and acquisitions; commercial real estate development; commercial real estate sales and leasing; franchise law; and representing lenders and borrowers in connection with loan transactions and in work-out situations. Jodi also represents clients in eminent domain negotiations and trials.

Experience
Magistrate, Lake County Domestic Relations Court
March 1992 - December 31, 2002
Magistrate, Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court
July 1997 - December 1998
Acting Judge, Painesville Municipal Court
March 2008 - continuing
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, Kent State University, 1983
Juris Doctor, Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, 1989
Admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of Ohio, the Federal District Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Professional Organizations
Lake County Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Ohio Womenâs Bar Association
Family Law Committee, Lake County Bar Association
Ohio Association of Domestic Relations Judges (former member)
Ohio Association...

Patrick J. Brickman was admitted to practice law in Ohio in December, 2011. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, business law, and class action litigation. Mr. Brickman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Dayton in 2007. He was awarded his Juris Doctor from the University Of Akron School Of Law in 2011, where he was a member of the University of Akron's Moot Court Team, through which he represented the school in the Lefkowitz Intellectual Property Moot Court Competition in Chicago, IL. Additionally, Mr. Brickman...

Theresa N. Turk received her B.A. degrees from Ohio University in 2002 in Political Science and Economics. She received her J.D. degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 2006. Ms. Turk is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Association of Specialists on Aging. Ms. Turk is also a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, and the Geauga County Bar Association. Ms. Turk concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, guardianships, and probate matters. Ms. Turk currently oversees the northeast...

Business Lawyers in Nearby Counties

Business laws include all municipal, state, and federal laws that regulate businesses and commerce. Some industries, such as finance, face specific laws and regulations that apply to those in the field. Businesses of all types also must conform to many regulations that apply across the board, such as environmental regulations and advertising laws.

A business lawyer can help you address the myriad legal issues that arise when you are starting a new venture, operating an established company, or winding up or selling a business.

Business lawyers handle a broad spectrum of legal issues that confront companies. For new ventures, a business lawyer can help with business formation decisions, including selecting the proper business form, such a partnership, LLC or corporation, or addressing financial compliance issues when raising capital. In addition, business lawyers can offer advice when reviewing leases, purchase agreements, and other types of contracts. Other issues covered in this practice area include employee compensation and benefits, building relationships with independent contractors and other entities, and compliance with relevant advertising regulations.

While most business lawyers deal in transactional work (contracts and forms), some also litigate business disputes that arise from transactional work. Business litigation attorneys may handle issues such as breach of contract claims, consumer class action lawsuits, and wrongful termination claims.

Business judgment rule:
a presumption that directors making a business decision, not involving self-interest, act on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that their actions are in the corporation's best interest.

Pierce the veil:
A court no longer affords a shareholder of a corporation the protection of limited liability when the corporation has neglected corporate formalities and intermingled assets between the shareholder and the corporation.